BY I). EMBLETON, M.D. 17 



lection of British stuffed birds, skins, eggs, nests, and the mag- 

 nificent groups under glass cases which now fill the central and 

 largest room of the edifice. Very few specimens are in that 

 room that have not passed through his skilful hands. Many- 

 others in the first or southern room were also contributed by 

 him. The collection in the central or Hancock Bird-room is 

 probably unequalled for the beauty and variety of British Birds, 

 and it would be very difficult to appraise its value in money. 



In August, 1884, the Museum was formally opened by their 

 Eoyal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales, accom- 

 panied by their two sons, Prince Albert Yictor Edward and 

 Prince George. 



All those, and they were many, who listened to the concluding 

 portion of the address of the President of the British Association 

 for the Advancement of Science, in 1889, may recollect that 

 Professor Plower could hardly find words enough to express his 

 high sense of the excellence and value of the Museum after 

 having critically examined it over and over, and observed, 

 "You are fortunate in possessing in ISTewcastle an artist who, 

 by a proper application of taxidermy, can show that a dead 

 animal may be converted into a real life-like representation 

 of the original ; perfect in form, proportions, and attitude, and 

 almost, if not quite, as valuable for conveying information as 

 the living creature itself." 



John, together with his brother Albany, as already stated, 

 inherited from his father his inextinguishable love for !N^atural 

 History, and that inheritance was fostered in both by a kind and 

 discerning mother, and enlarged by their friend Thomas Bewick, 

 whose workshop John was fond of frequenting, and by the 

 members of the "Wednesday Evening Club. In addition, John 

 received from the parental stock a healthy and vigorous frame 

 of body, of medium stature and well knit, and a sensitive nervous 

 system. On arriving at manhood his powers of observation and 

 his memory were strongly developed, and both he and Albany 

 became adepts at drawing the subjects of their study and colour- 

 ing their drawings, though of tuition in the art of design John 

 had little and Albany none; but the *'!N'udibranchiateMollusca" 



